§ 3.27 p.m.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what supplies and services this country is now providing in collaboration with the Nigerian Government to alleviate distress resulting from recent internal conflict and to assist Nigeria in its task of economic reconstruction.]
§ LORD BETHELLMy Lords, last January Her Majesty's Government offered £5 million for post-war relief and rehabilitation in Nigeria. By March 31 of this year about £1.8 million of this had been spent. From the balance we continue to support the field work of 728 voluntary agencies. Orders have been, or will soon be, placed for ambulances, vehicles, mobile telephone exchanges, agricultural implements, school equipment, building materials and other urgent supplies. Also, British goods and services for reconstruction are being provided under our normal aid programme. Their value—about £400,000 in this financial year—is covered by the balance of the £1.55 million capital aid made available in 1969. A further loan of up to £1.85 million was offered earlier this year and is expected to be signed before long.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him, particularly in view of what has recently been seen on television and elsewhere of the considerable distress in the Eastern part of Nigeria, whether in his estimation those reports are fair? Also, may I ask whether agencies such as the Red Cross and British philanthropic agencies are operating quite freely and are helping in that country to the satisfaction of the Nigerian Government?
§ LORD BETHELLMy Lords, with regard to the "Panorama" programme on July 13, it is the view of the Government that it was not an entirely objective programme. I can tell the House that my right honourable friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has been personally concerning himself, and very urgently, with the question of aid to the former Biafra, and he has recent information that it is untrue that there is any widespread starvation in this area. Of course he is keeping the situation under very close review, and members of our High Commission in Lagos visit the area frequently—one was there only last week. I can assure the House that this matter will be looked at again and again.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while appreciating the reassuring reply of the noble Lord, may I ask him this question? While there is no doubt at all that General Gowon is doing everything he can in this respect, is it not the case that the administration underneath him is not proving adequate to the needs of the Eastern Region? So could some consultation take place, without in any way depriving Nigeria of its self-government, by which the British Government might 729 go further than the noble Lord has indicated in the assistance given?
§ LORD BETHELLMy Lords, the administration of the East Central State of Nigeria, which is the Ibo heartland, is now in the hands of Ibos, and I am advised that since State Rehabilitation Commissions were set up at the beginning of July consultations between the Ibo rulers of the East Central State and the voluntary organisations take place regularly. The British Government receive reports from these voluntary organisations, and in this way we can keep a pretty close check on how our aid to Nigeria is spent.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, in view of what the noble Lord has said about the inaccuracy of the "Panorama" programme, may I ask him whether it is a fact that those pictures of queues of starving children holding up their basins for food were taken recently?
§ LORD BETHELLMy Lords, I am advised that those pictures were taken in May, 1969, and that although the commentator on the programme mentioned that in passing, the impression was given that there was widespread starvation in Nigeria, and many people may have got that impression.